Appu's Turmeric Cafe — Restaurant in Long Beach

We recently had the opportunity to try the new location of Appu's Cafe in Long Beach. I was very impressed with the food, the service, and the atmosphere.

We started our meal with a vegan mango lassi. It was creamy and refreshing, and the perfect way to start a meal. We had the Maharaja burrito with the Cali 911 sauce as well as the paneer Tikka masala. The burrito was a good size and filled with flavorful ingredients, including turmeric rice, mushrooms, and paneer. The Cali 911 sauce added a bit of heat to the burrito, but it wasn't too spicy. The paneer Tikka masala was creamy and flavorful, and the paneer was a nice change from the usual chicken you would get in a non-vegetarian restaurant. This had a nice kick to it as well.

The service at Appu's Cafe was excellent. Chef VR was friendly and attentive, and he made sure that we had everything we needed. The atmosphere at Appu's Cafe is casual and relaxed. It's a great place to go for a casual meal with friends or family.

Overall, I had a great experience at the new location of Appu's Cafe. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a delicious and healthy meal.

Here are some additional details about the dishes you mentioned:

Vegan mango lassi: This is a refreshing and creamy drink made with mango, coconut cream, and spices. It's a great way to start your meal or enjoy as a snack. Maharaja burrito: This burrito is filled with rice, mushrooms, paneer, avocado, and Cali 911 sauce. The Cali 911 sauce is a spicy sauce made with cayenne pepper, garlic, and other spices. Paneer Tikka masala: This dish is made with paneer (a type of Indian cheese), tomato sauce, and spices. It's a creamy and flavorful dish that's goes perfectly with the...

I’ve been in the food industry for years and have also owned and operated a restaurant. I was genuinely excited to try this café—especially after seeing so many glowing reviews.

I ordered the Protein Bowl (takeout). The photo of the bowl looked large and appetizing at first glance, but what I received was, unfortunately, quite disappointing.

1. Misleading Name: Based on a rough estimate, the dish contained about 14 grams of protein. For someone with an active lifestyle, the recommended daily intake is around 120 grams. Fourteen grams hardly qualifies this as a “protein bowl.”

2. Portion Size: This portion would be better suited for a kids’ menu or as a small appetizer. It was genuinely small and unfulfilling.

3. Flavor: The bowl consisted of one cup of cooked rice, garbanzo beans, black beans (which tasted straight from the can), and a few very thin avocado slices. Without seasoning or a flavorful sauce to bring it all together, the result was bland and uninspired. Sadly, there was no “magic” in this dish—just a missed opportunity.

4. Food Cost vs. Value: It’s easy to estimate that the food cost for this dish is under $1.00, yet it’s priced at $12.00. Nothing in it is premium, and the café didn’t make up for that with generosity or creativity. It left me feeling unsatisfied and, frankly, a little disappointed.

I understand that I may not be the average customer. But I believe this café—like many others—has the potential to step beyond the ordinary and offer dishes that are tasty, creative, and...

This is the first time I've been to Appu's new location on Palo Verde. The strip mall has ample parking albeit it probably varies. The strip mall is right by the 405 freeway entrances so be on the alert for how to enter!

Six of us went for an early lunch; 4 had never been before. We were cordially seated and two tables were quickly combined for us to sit together. The place is spotless! Wile I originally inquired if Saag Paneer could be made as it was not on the menu, I was told yes but then opted to share dishes with one person. We checked out the Saag Aloo and Paneer Tikka Masala, the latter dish I was not so familiar with but then became my preferred dish. Both were flavorful but the Tikka Masala had the extra charge. The accompanying rice made for a filling me. We had to pay extra for the bread but it is probably the one thing you might not need with the rice. Also, the bread is a flat bread and does not absorb the sauces as well as I would have liked.

We were treated to some mango lassi and it was light and refreshing. As one might know, southeast Asian drinks can be so caloric as usually they are made with condensed milk but not Appu's. A full serving size is well under 200 calories.

If you've never been to Appu's and you want to eat healthy, this is the place but it's not boring vegan or vegetarian but a thoughtful fusion of spices and aromatics. Appu's original location is now holding cooking classes! Call for dates and...